Editor’s note; I recently discovered an article published in 1919 regarding Indiana’s Centennial celebration, which was  celebrated in 1916. As the city of Richmond is celebrating their Bicentennial this year (1810 ~ 2010),  I found this article  particularly interesting, to say the least. I will  continue my research  with hopes of finding  more information with regard to this report. Meanwhile, if anyone has additional materials or information regarding Richmond’s  lack of support (participation)  for this event, I would appreciate hearing from them. I will update this entry as  more information becomes available. Indiana’s Centennial  celebrations were conducted throughout the State and locally, by Earlham College, Cambridge City, Fountain City and the Richmond Friends Church,  however, for reason/s unknown at this time, (and according to the article below) Richmond (apparently) chose to ignore this historical  event.

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WAYNE. It is the irony of the year that the home county of the Secretary and Director of the State Commission should make about the worst showing of any county in the State, everything considered. B. F. Wissler of Cambridge City, a man active in the Wayne County Historical Society, and with a deep appreciation of the true significance of the year, was appointed County Chairman and succeeded in organizing a good, representative committee.

Richmond proved the stumbling block. A few public spirited citizens of the town worked faithfully to stir up interest but without avail. Various conferences were called by Mr. Wissler and special efforts were made by both the Secretary and Director of the State Commission toward getting a worthy celebration under way, but without success. When it was found that Richmond would not cooperate, attempts at a county observance were abandoned.

Then, to cap the climax, the Commercial Club of Richmond promoted a street fair and carnival in October under the name of a Centennial Exposition which was of such a nature as to call forth a formal protest from the local Ministerial Association. It was a travesty on the high and patriotic purpose of the Centennial Year.

While the county as such did not participate in the statewide Centennial movement, some recognition of the year was given within its borders. It was very fitting that the historic town of Fountain City, once known as Newport, should observe the anniversary. It did so in May by holding a remarkable heirloom exhibit, the proper display of which required the greater part of the public school building. Special interest attached to the observance from the fact that the town is the seat of the old home of Levi Coffin, famous as the President of the Underground Railroad and whose home was used as a “Grand Central Station.” Mrs. O. N. Huff was chairman of the committee under whose leadership the exhibit was held.

Determined that his own town at least should show a patriotic appreciation of the year, Mr. Wissler wrote a play based on the early history of Indiana and the Old Northwest Territory, which was presented before a very large audience in the local opera house by the Cambridge City High School.

On October 8 the Friends churches of Richmond conducted Centennial anniversary services in keeping with the concerted action of that religious denomination in Indiana. Source; The Indiana Centennial; Edited by Harlow Lindley; Secy., Indiana Historical Committee; Published by the Indiana  Historical Commission; Indianapolis, 1919.  

HARLOW LINDLEY

May 31, 1875- August 20, 1959

Harlow Lindley was born in Parke County and received his A. M. degree in 1899 from Earlham College. He served on the Earlham and various other college faculties between 1899 and 1928.

Lindley served as director of the Department of History and Archives, Indiana State Library, from 1907 to 1923. He was secretary of the Indiana Historical Commission from 1915 to 1923 and director from 1923-1924.

He served as curator of history at the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society from 1929 to 1934, and secretary, editor and librarian from 1934 to 1946. His historical publications include The Indiana Centennial, 1916 and Indiana As Seen By Early Travelers.

Sources:
R.E. Banta, Indiana Authors and their Books, 1816-1916, Crawfordsville: Wabash College, 1949, p. 192.
Indiana Biography Series, Indianapolis: Indiana State Library, 3:19.

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WHY DID  RICHMOND  CHOOSE NOT TO SUPPORT THE 1916 CENTENNIAL? Contact me with your information!

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The following  B.F. Wissler sketch was included  in an  1884 History of Wayne County;

BENJAMIN F. WISSLER: Benjamin F. Wissler, (father of Clarkson D. Wissler) Principal of the East Germantown schools, was born July 30, 1848, in Henry County, Ind. He was reared principally in Wayne County, Ind., where he attended school. He completed his education at the Spiceland Academy, which he attended one year. Since leaving school he has followed teaching, first in the district schools of this county. He was appointed Principal of the East Germantown schools in 1881, and during his principalship the schools have been in a prosperous condition. He was married Aug. 5, 1869, to Sylvania Medler, a native of Henry County, and daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Medler. They have four children”Clarkson D., Cora E., John E., and Lizzie O. John M. Wissler, our subject™s (B.F. Wissler) father, was born in Wayne County about 1825, and in 1846 married Elizabeth Herr, a native of Lancaster County, Pa., and a daughter of Christian and Elizabeth Herr. They reared two children to maturity”our subject and Christian P. Mr. and Mrs. Wissler resided in Wayne County till 1860, since which they have made their home in Henry County.

Source: History Of Wayne County, Indiana; Vol II; Interstate Publishers; 1884

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